"Gladys Avenue Urban Farm: Organic Produce From the Soil to the Table"

January 18, 2019. Martin Luther King Day.

Our cherished Gladys Avenue Urban Farm began a resurgence recently. This is a gathering of volunteers who have begun the process.

This fertile ground is once again coming to life.

November 5. With Lara Som MAYE Center and our Councilman Daryl Supernaw, at the revival of the Gladys Ave Urban Farm. A Red Letter Day!

Gladys Avenue Urban Farm is located not far from my home and the ORV Alguita in Long Beach, California. I purchased the property in 1985 to add upholstery to my then furniture repair business across the street. Soon after, I cleared the land adjacent to the building and created “The Company Garden”, based on the concept of integrated local production. Produce from the Garden supplied the employees and local community and was the hub of the Long Beach Food Cooperative. We were the first to sell Mesclun mixed greens in Southern California to our first customer, Papa John’s Natural in Belmont Shore.

READY FOR DELIVERY

MARKET DAY

PREPARING FOR MARKET TO OPEN

A WORKING LUNCH

"CARROT PEOPLE"

SNAP PEAS

FUTURE FARMER

EDUCATION FAIR DAY AT THE FARM

CAULIFLOWER

MESCLUN GREENS

GINGER AND TUMERIC

2014 EXPEDITION PROVISIONS

Zlata Polish Radishes

The Farm also supplied fruits and vegetables to local distributor, Beach Greens, and serviced Chefs Paul and David in Long Beach. It is now a farm-to-table operation run by Chef Gary Menes, whose restaurant, Le Comptoir, is rated Number 2 in Los Angeles by the Los Angeles Times.

Managing the land organically --- small scale intensive community supported agriculture --- can be key to elimination of agricultural practices harmful to health and damage to the coastal ocean with toxic run-off. Local production also reduces excessive transportation costs, maximizes produce freshness and minimizes packaging, thereby further reducing the use of plastic bags or containers.